Around the League: 2024-25 Season

[eyriq]

Looking at the rosters, I just don’t get how Detroit is competing with NY. Before the season I thought Harris, Hardaway, and Schroeder were washed and Beasley was the definition of meh. Thompson seemed like a bust. Their coach was just fired the previous season from another team. They even dealt with a season ending injury to an emerging star. Cade has taken the leap and Duren is what he is, but it just makes me wonder what is working there and what we should learn from it?

Their top three minutes played went from:

2024
Ivey (21)
Cade (22)
Duren (20)

to

2025
Cade (23)
Tobias (32)
Beasley (28)

Lesson? Young cores tend to lose (unless you have an extremely special young core).

[Skybox]

Looking at the rosters, I just don’t get how Detroit is competing with NY. Before the season I thought Harris, Hardaway, and Schroeder were washed and Beasley was the definition of meh. Thompson seemed like a bust. Their coach was just fired the previous season from another team. They even dealt with a season ending injury to an emerging star. Cade has taken the leap and Duren is what he is, but it just makes me wonder what is working there and what we should learn from it?

A world class playmaker makes everyone better...that's the lesson. Until this season, you could make a case that Franz was the best player in the class, but Cade just put the pedal down - everything clicked and the TEAM FITS THE STAR.

[Knightro]

Looking at the rosters, I just don’t get how Detroit is competing with NY. Before the season I thought Harris, Hardaway, and Schroeder were washed and Beasley was the definition of meh. Thompson seemed like a bust. Their coach was just fired the previous season from another team. They even dealt with a season ending injury to an emerging star. Cade has taken the leap and Duren is what he is, but it just makes me wonder what is working there and what we should learn from it?

They replaced a bunch of *really bad* young players (Wiseman, Hayes, Sasser, Livers, Knox) with a bunch of capable veteran role players (Harris, Hardaway, Beasley, Schroder).

It would be like the Magic having three Jett Howard's in their rotation and replacing them with three KCP's.

[Idiosyncratic]

Looking at the rosters, I just don’t get how Detroit is competing with NY. Before the season I thought Harris, Hardaway, and Schroeder were washed and Beasley was the definition of meh. Thompson seemed like a bust. Their coach was just fired the previous season from another team. They even dealt with a season ending injury to an emerging star. Cade has taken the leap and Duren is what he is, but it just makes me wonder what is working there and what we should learn from it?

I think just neither of these teams are that great. Cade took a leap plus the Pistons added somewhat competent vets, but winning in a conference where half the teams want to tank isn't special. Once you decide you don't want to tank you have pretty easy access to the playoffs in the East. Knicks have struggled with non-bad teams.

This game I really just think the Pistons defense is bothering the heck out of the Knicks. Being very physical with them and they can't get to their spots.

[3ddman23]

Schroeder... Another guy the magic could have gotten for free at the trade deadline, winning the game for the pistons in game 2.. smh

[Bensational]

Schroder giving Detroit the go ahead buckets to close this game out is really gonna upset the people who wanted us to pick him up for spare change like Detroit did.

[YosemiteSam]

Schroeder... Another guy the magic could have gotten for free at the trade deadline, winning the game for the pistons in game 2.. smh

I know. With Suggs out it seems like Weltman had to work hard NOT to add Schroeder given his history with the Wagner brothers. Instead we are starting Corey Joseph

[SOUL]

It would be like the Magic having three Jett Howard's in their rotation and replacing them with three KCP's.

Magic fans think playing TDS/Jett/Black/Goga would = wins lol

[Bensational]

Looking at the rosters, I just don’t get how Detroit is competing with NY. Before the season I thought Harris, Hardaway, and Schroeder were washed and Beasley was the definition of meh. Thompson seemed like a bust. Their coach was just fired the previous season from another team. They even dealt with a season ending injury to an emerging star. Cade has taken the leap and Duren is what he is, but it just makes me wonder what is working there and what we should learn from it?

It’s a combo of Cade being a more natural PG (league leading lob tandem with Duren) and both coming into their own, along with the underrated fact that Harris, Beasley and Schroeder have been around a lot of winning teams throughout their careers.

If the Magic are healthy they are significantly better than them, IMO.

[eyriq]

Schroeder... Another guy the magic could have gotten for free at the trade deadline, winning the game for the pistons in game 2.. smh

I know. With Suggs out it seems like Weltman had to work hard NOT to add Schroeder given his history with the Wagner brothers. Instead we are starting Corey Joseph

Corey starting is a serious black eye for Weltman. I get that we prioritize keeping paths open for AB and salute that sentiment, but the attachment to Cole is nauseating.

[Bensational]

It would be like the Magic having three Jett Howard's in their rotation and replacing them with three KCP's.

Or like the Magic replacing AB and Cole with CoJo?

[eyriq]

It would be like the Magic having three Jett Howard's in their rotation and replacing them with three KCP's.

Magic fans think playing TDS/Jett/Black/Goga would = wins lol

Magic fans thinking Cole, Harris, and CoJo are better options that AB, Jett, and TDS lol

[ORLMagicGirl15]

Looking at the rosters, I just don’t get how Detroit is competing with NY. Before the season I thought Harris, Hardaway, and Schroeder were washed and Beasley was the definition of meh. Thompson seemed like a bust. Their coach was just fired the previous season from another team. They even dealt with a season ending injury to an emerging star. Cade has taken the leap and Duren is what he is, but it just makes me wonder what is working there and what we should learn from it?

The players they have are reliable, consistent, and can shoot. Oh, and they have a point guard. That’s the difference.

[YosemiteSam]

They replaced a bunch of *really bad* young players (Wiseman, Hayes, Sasser, Livers, Knox) with a bunch of capable veteran role players (Harris, Hardaway, Beasley, Schroder).

It would be like the Magic having three Jett Howard's in their rotation and replacing them with three KCP's.

I guess that was the goal with KCP (add a veteran to the young core) but he wasn’t enough. I think Weltman thinks we are OKC and can win with our young core now, but to me they are unique in that they have so much young talent and a top 5 player that they are not able to be replicated.

[SOUL]

Magic fans thinking Cole, Harris, and CoJo are better options that AB, Jett, and TDS lol

They're streaky/below average vets and they easily are lol. I mean, AB is fine but Jett and TDS are green as hell and would get ran off the court.

Fans massively overrate cookies/young players and most are extremely negative until 2-3 years in the league. Paolo still isn't an advanced stat darling but he obviously does a lot well.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

It would be like the Magic having three Jett Howard's in their rotation and replacing them with three KCP's.

Magic fans think playing TDS/Jett/Black/Goga would = wins lol

Magic fans thinking Cole, Harris, and CoJo are better options that AB, Jett, and TDS lol

I mean Jett might not even get a 2nd contract lol.

AB>Cole>CoJo>TDS>Harris>Jett for this year

[KillMonger]

Watching that knick game..... People have some nerve man..... The bs I saw in this game and some people on social call Paolo a foul merchant?

Sent from my [Sidekick 5G] using RealGM mobile app

[eyriq]

Magic fans thinking Cole, Harris, and CoJo are better options that AB, Jett, and TDS lol

They're streaky/below average vets and they easily are lol. I mean, AB is fine but Jett and TDS are green as hell and would get ran off the court.

Fans massively overrate cookies/young players and most are extremely negative until 2-3 years in the league. Paolo still isn't an advanced stat darling but he obviously does a lot well.

No. CoJo, Harris, and Cole are scrubs

[eyriq]

Magic fans think playing TDS/Jett/Black/Goga would = wins lol

Magic fans thinking Cole, Harris, and CoJo are better options that AB, Jett, and TDS lol

I mean Jett might not even get a 2nd contract lol.

AB>Cole>CoJo>TDS>Harris>Jett for this year

That's fair, Jett is pretty bad. TDS is actually good and better than all three of Harris, CoJo, and Cole though. Soul is just carrying water for Mosley as usual.

[eyriq]

They replaced a bunch of *really bad* young players (Wiseman, Hayes, Sasser, Livers, Knox) with a bunch of capable veteran role players (Harris, Hardaway, Beasley, Schroder).

It would be like the Magic having three Jett Howard's in their rotation and replacing them with three KCP's.

I guess that was the goal with KCP (add a veteran to the young core) but he wasn’t enough. I think Weltman thinks we are OKC and can win with our young core now, but to me they are unique in that they have so much young talent and a top 5 player that they are not able to be replicated.

The weighted average age of a team's top three most played players is decently predictive of team wins.